Oldham on look-out for new pro

CRICKET: OLDHAM are without a full-time professional following Zakir Kathrada’s return to South Africa.

The Lake Garage CLL Championship side has also lost the services of overseas amateur Uzair Walters.

Once his fellow countryman had left Oldham, Walters was feeling isolated, living on his own at the Pollards. He has now joined a club in Chester which includes another South African player.

Oldham skipper Rashid Hussain said: "Zakir is the first-choice wicketkeeper for Kimberley in South Africa. They decided to start their season early and we felt it was the right thing to release him.

"As for Uzair, he was on his own once the professional had gone and wasn't in the right frame of mind to play cricket for us.”

Oldham have used Usman Ashad and former Milnrow pro Babar Naeem in recent matches, and on Sunday turned to former Crompton professional Saeed Anwar for the Wood Cup quarter-final tie at Norden.

The Oldham club is looking for a more permanent arrangement and hopes to make an announcement about a new pro player soon.